- Joined
- Sep 27, 2012
- Messages
- 1,247
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Dublin ( South )
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 40 Plus
Hi
After a recent association lecture on swarming, want to try get clear in my head the pros and cons of *perhaps* switching from std national brood box, to Brood and half or commercial brood box for next season.
The Beek who gave the lecture, very close to where I keep my hives has all commercial brood boxes. That said he is vastly more experienced than I.
Just after this extraordinary year, when I was constantly it seemed fighting against bees that were determined to swarm. My thinking ( correctly or not ) is that the extra space might just provide that impetus for them to switch down a gear in the swarming stakes ??
Do realise that this setup is probably better suited to warm climes with more prolific colonies, but * IF * we had a decent Spring / Summer / Autumn it could be a good move ?? Also with the decent Autumn now it is giving us a fighting chance Maybe of a good start going in to next season.
Though would imagine with the Brood and half option it would be a pain to examine ? Having to inspect so many more frames ?
Look forward to some sound advice Thanks !
After a recent association lecture on swarming, want to try get clear in my head the pros and cons of *perhaps* switching from std national brood box, to Brood and half or commercial brood box for next season.
The Beek who gave the lecture, very close to where I keep my hives has all commercial brood boxes. That said he is vastly more experienced than I.
Just after this extraordinary year, when I was constantly it seemed fighting against bees that were determined to swarm. My thinking ( correctly or not ) is that the extra space might just provide that impetus for them to switch down a gear in the swarming stakes ??
Do realise that this setup is probably better suited to warm climes with more prolific colonies, but * IF * we had a decent Spring / Summer / Autumn it could be a good move ?? Also with the decent Autumn now it is giving us a fighting chance Maybe of a good start going in to next season.
Though would imagine with the Brood and half option it would be a pain to examine ? Having to inspect so many more frames ?
Look forward to some sound advice Thanks !